Base construction for supporting a column



BASE CONSTRUCTION FOR SUPPORTING A COLUMN Filed May 6, 1965 ngam fl M Attorney United States Patent Ofifice 3,282,001 Patented Nov. 1, 1966 3,282,001 BASE CONSTRUQTION FUR SUPPORTING A CULUMN Ivan W. Bigalow, Ross Township, Allegheny (County, Pa.,

assignor to United States @teel Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed May n, 1963, Ser. No. 278,022

3 Qlairns. (ill. 52-111) 7 This invention relates to an improved base construction for supporting a metal column.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved base construction which allows the position of a column to be adjusted to facilitate fitting other parts to the column.

A more specific object is to provide an improved base construction which includes a stationary plate, a retaining cover fixed thereto, and an adjustable plate supported on said stationary plate between it and the cover, a column being fixed to the adjustable plate and extending through an opening in the cover, whereby the position of the column is adjustable.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, I have provided improved details of structure, a preferred form of which is shown in the accompanying drawing, in which:

The single figure is a perspective view with parts broken away of a metal column and base constructed in accordance with my invention.

My base construction includes a stationary plate 10, a cover 12 fixed to said plate and spaced thereabove, and an adjustable plate 13 supported on the stationary plate in the space between it and the cover. A metal post or column 14 is fixed to the adjustable plate 13 and extends upwardly through an opening 15 in the cover. The opening is larger than the cross-sectional dimensions of the column to enable the position of the column to be adjusted with respect to the stationary plate, but smaller than the adjustable plate, whereby the cover retains the plate. I have illustrated the two plates, the cover and the opening as round and the column as square in cross section, but obviously the specific configuration is a matter of choice. Also I have illustrated the cover as attached to the stationary plate with a continuous rim 16 which extends around the circumference of both and is welded to the plate, but the specific attaching means is another matter of choice. eluding a telescoping upper section 17, which is attached to the lower portion by bolts 18 and a retaining plate 19 to enable the height to be adjusted, but this feature likewise is optional.

In use I place the column and base in a shallow excavation 20. I then rotate and shift the column sideways as needed to align it with other members which are to be I have illustrated the column as inattached thereto, as for example girders of a building frame. After I have positioned the column and made the necessary connections, I fill the excavation with ramped earth, concrete, or the like to fix the column firmly in place.

From the foregoing description it is seen that my invention affords a base of simple construction which facilitates accurately positioning a column. The usual practice of lining up a column accurately beforehand is time-consuming and costly. My invention enables the column to be positioned only approximately until other parts of a structure are tied in.

While I have shown and described only a single embodiment of my invention, it is apparent that modifications may arise. Therefore, I do not wish to be limited to the disclosure set forth but only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination, a vertical column and a base supporting said column, said base comprising a flat stationary plate, a cover having an opening, means fixing said cover to said plate in spaced relation thereabove, and a flat adjustable plate supported on said stationary plate in the space between it and said cover, said column being fixed to said adjustable plate and extending through said opening, said opening being larger than the cross-sectional dimensions of said column to enable adjustment of said adjustable plate with respect to said stationary plate to rotate said column and shift it horizontally in any direction, but smaller than said adjustable plate, whereby said cover retains said adjustable plate, said column remaining vertical throughout adjustments of said adjustable plate.

2. A combination as defined in claim 1 in which said plates and said opening are round, said column is rectangular in cross section, and said means includes a rim extending around the circumference of said cover and welded to said stationary plate.

3. A combination as defined in claim 1 in which said column includes a telescoping upper section and means fixing said section to the lower portion of the column.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 891,897 6/1908 Astrom 248 -357 X 1,647,992 11/ 1927 Hartman 248-23 X 1,668,486 5/1928 Betts 52-298 2,952,946 9/ 1960 Lucas 248-23 3,074,177 1/1963 Duvoisin 24823 X FOREIGN PATENTS 170,822 10/ 1934 Switzerland.

RICHARD W. COOKE, JR., Primary Examiner. 

1. IN COMBINATION, A VERTICAL COLUMN AND A BASE SUPPORTING SAID COLUMN, SAID BASE COMPRISING A FLAT STATIONARY PLATE, A COVER HAVING AN OPENING, MEANS FIXING SAID COVER TO SAID PLATE IN SPACED RELATION THEREABOVE, AND A FLAT ADJUSTABLE PLATE SUPPORT ON SAID STATIONARY PLATE IN THE SPACE BETWEEN IT AND SAID COVER, SAID COLUMN BEING FIXED TO SAID ADJUSTABLE PLATE AND EXTENDING THROUGH SAID OPENING, SAID OPENING BEING LARGER THAN THE CROSS-SECTIONAL DIMENSIONS OF SAID COLUMN TO ENABLE ADJUSTMENT OF SAID ADJUSTABLE PLATE AND RESPECT TO SAID STATIONARY PLATE TO ROTATE SAID COLUMN AND SHIFT IT HORIZONTALLY IN ANY DIRECTION, BUT SMALLER THAN SAID ADJUSTABLE PLATE, WHEREBY SAID COVER RETAINS SAID ADJUSTABLE PLATE, SAID COLUMN REMAINING VERTICAL THROUGHOUT ADJUSTMENTS OF SAID ADJUSTABLE PLATE. 